Brad Keselowski has struggled mightily in 2025 by way of the primary dozen races. The 2012 NASCAR Cup Collection champion has appeared like something however a champion, recording simply 4 prime 20s all 12 months. He doesn’t have a single prime 10 and unbelievably has 9 finishes of twenty sixth or worse.
Fortuitously for the RFK Racing co-owner/driver, his teammates have carried out higher, together with Chris Buescher, who has had a good begin to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Collection marketing campaign. By way of the primary third of the season, the No. 17 automobile has recorded six prime 10s, together with one prime 5, the place he completed fifth at Phoenix. He has 4 finishes of twenty fourth or worse, together with his worst race at Talladega the place he completed thirty fourth.
Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher discuss throughout driver introductions earlier than the Daytona 500.John David Mercer-Imagn Photos
In comparison with final 12 months’s numbers by way of the primary dozen races, there’s been a slight drop-off in efficiency for Buescher, who had scored the identical variety of prime 10s (6), another prime 5 (two runner-up outcomes at Phoenix and Kansas) however solely two outcomes of twenty fifth or worse.
On Wednesday, the Texan stood 14th within the Cup Collection level standings and two spots above the playoff cutline. On Thursday, he had dropped 10 spots and properly beneath the cutline all the way in which all the way down to twenty fourth after NASCAR introduced an L1 penalty for the group.
There have been rumors floating round and on Thursday NASCAR confirmed a significant penalty for the No. 17 of @Chris_Buescher for violations of Sections 14.1.C: Total Assembled Automobile Guidelines; 14.5.4.G: Entrance Bumper Cowl.The group has been fined $75,000 and assessed with the loss…
— Kyle Dalton (@kdsportswriter) May 15, 2025
In accordance with the press launch, the group had violated Sections 14.1.C: Total Assembled Automobile Guidelines and 14.5.4.G: Entrance Bumper Cowl. Consequently, the group has been fined $75,000 and assessed with the lack of 60 proprietor factors, 60 driver factors and 5 NASCAR Playoff driver and proprietor factors. Crew chief Scott Graves has been suspended from the following two NASCAR Cup Collection occasions, by way of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The factors deductions are undoubtedly hits to the No. 17 group however the lack of Graves is much less painful contemplating one of many races he’ll miss is the upcoming non-points-paying All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro on Sunday.
And with this newest information, Keselowski needs to be questioning when this horrible season goes to show round.
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